HenbitWeed Identification and Control

How to identify and manage Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) a
common lawn weed throughout the United States. It is a member of the
mint family, prefers moist fertile soils, and has purple to pink tubular
shaped flowers that bloom in the spring. Photos are included to help
with weed id.

It is also commonly confused with purple deadnettle and ground ivy. The upper leaves of purple deadnettle are triangular, have petioles, and are purple to red.

Life cycle - winter annual (cool-season weed) that reproduces by
seed. Starting its life cycle in the fall when seeds germinate. It
lives through the winter (overwinters) and then flowers in the spring.
Finally dying as the temperatures rise.

Lawn Weed Control

The best weed control is always a healthy, well-managed lawn the will not allow weed seeds to germinate. Weed seeds need contact this soil and sunlight to germinate and grow. A dense, vigorous lawn will choke out young weed seedlings before they can grow and develop into mature plants.